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Anyway, though I love my GC and like I said I'm on my second now, your needs may be different. I rank the GC with no modifications about a good 70/30 road to dirt as far as ride vs offroad capability. You may want something a little more off road capable but you won't find something more road capable that's a 4x4 anyway. I really like the big SUVs but then they don't really ride any better than my big truck and the truck can carry much more. I guess that shouldn't surprise me since they basically are a big truck. I rank both about an 80/20. The medium SUVs are somewhere between your Wrangler and the Grand Cherokee. They have a lot more road comfort than the Wrangler but way short of the Grand Cherokee. Naturally their higher body stance and shorter wheel base makes them a tad more off road/rock friendly. I rate most of them, about a 60/40. If you follow this then it shouldn't surprise you I rank the Wrangler a 40/60.
I honestly think if a fella nails that percentage thing down as to what they want and test drive a few, whatever they choose they will like much better than what works best for me or some other guy. We're all a little different.
Tj
In the lower price range, I'll agree, but if you give up a little more in the off road department, and are willing to spend some more money, you won't find better road vehicles that can also go off the beaten path a little than the MB ML350, the BMW X3 and the X5. In fantasy land, and depending on one's budget, the ultimate on road vehicle, that can also do heavy duty, hardcore off roading, the MB Geländewagen is the ultimate choice IMO. Let's face it, being able to change lanes lightning quick at 80mph in the rain is a survival situation that many more of us will find ourselves in our lives, than off roading in some Mad Max post-apocayliptic wasteland. I've also responded to crash scenes where people have survived unbelieveable collisions and walked away thanks to not only German engineering, but German craftsmanship. A well built car has a much higher likelyhood of saving one of our lives in day to day living than any firearm, MRE, water filter, parachute, etc. Don't get me wrong, I still have a place for our F-250 diesel crew cab, but if I had to pick a car to get into an accident with, or thanks to DSC, advanced antilock brakes, great tires, and AWD, hopefully avoid one, it would be the BMW.
That's true too and I really like the German SUVs particularly the Porche which has amazing push button drive options including automatically raising the ground clearance. The problem i have with them is two fold.
First I rate most of them 90/10 road to off road. They do exceptionally well on road as you posted, especially in slick road conditions, but not that strong offroad. Other than as an organized sport, they don't really offroad in Europe. Break something here in the US and probably won't be a trip down to Autozone and pick up the part. Nor is scavenging from another vehicle going to be likely. BTW, Just so everyone knows the drive train other than the motor on the 2005 up Jeep GC is German, Benz. That includes the transmission and anti-lock brake system. Still the GC is sold in such numbers it isn't quite as much of parts issue.
The other is that cost barrier. A replacement plastic coolant reservoir for a BMW is like $200. Where American made cars still have some semblance of fix it yourself or ohters fix it, German cars are almost all 100% designed to only be fixed by their authorized dealers. That can be quite problematic. It doesn't mean you can't do it, only it will be more difficult. Though expensive, fairly new (less than 60,000 miles), I consider them an actual very good value for your money. Its over that 60,000 miles that you really start seeing that value decline. In the low cost used category, they're almost non-existent. For the same money you can buy a GC or Jap SUV with under 60,000 miles, you'll be lucky to find a German one with less than double that mileage and more likely triple.
As for crashes, well I'm pretty convince there isn't an engineer born who can change the laws of physics and no matter how many crumple vehicles and air bags a vehicle has a larger heavier vehicle will always win out. What one really has to do here is compare an apple to an apple.
What I do like about the German SUVs is the same thing I like most about the new GC. Its a low center of gravity combined with a stiff suspension. In fast maneuvers, this greatly reduces the tilt to flip potential. Like you posted, the potential for us taking the slow rugged trail to the Smoky Joe Refugee Camp is very unlikely while trying to get away from Road Rage Rob, very likely.
Tj